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WorksheetsU.S. Government Comprehensive Review
Total questions: 100
Worksheet time: 49mins
What is original jurisdiction? Appellate jurisdiction?
Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time; appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority to review decisions made by lower courts.
Original jurisdiction refers to reviewing decisions made by lower courts; appellate jurisdiction refers to hearing a case for the first time.
Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear appeals; appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority to conduct trials.
Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear criminal cases; appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority to hear civil cases.
What does the Bill of Rights do?
It establishes the structure of the federal government.
It guarantees individual freedoms and rights.
It outlines the process for amending the Constitution.
It defines the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
What are civil liberties? What do civil rights limit?
Civil liberties are protections against government actions; civil rights limit discrimination by individuals and organizations.
Civil liberties are protections against discrimination; civil rights limit government actions.
Civil liberties are rights granted by the government; civil rights limit individual freedoms.
Civil liberties are protections against individual actions; civil rights limit discrimination by the government.
What is the Free Exercise Clause? What does it do?
It allows the government to regulate religious practices.
It prohibits the government from interfering with religious practices.
It establishes a national religion.
It limits the practice of religion to private spaces.
How did the Voting Rights Act of 1964 improve voting rights for minority groups?
It eliminated literacy tests and other discriminatory practices.
It established a national voting holiday.
It required all voters to register in person.
It limited voting rights to citizens over the age of 21.
What are the different levels of scrutiny that the courts apply to civil rights cases? Which level applies to which situation?
Strict scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, rational basis review
High scrutiny, medium scrutiny, low scrutiny
Constitutional scrutiny, legislative scrutiny, executive scrutiny
Federal scrutiny, state scrutiny, local scrutiny
What act was created specifically for people with disabilities to make sure they have the same access as everybody else in public spaces?
Reformation Act 1995
American Disabilities Act 1990
Disability Act 1979
How do political ideology and public opinion relate to each other?
Political ideology shapes public opinion
Public opinion shapes political ideology
They are completely independent of each other
They are unrelated concepts
What can the government prevent the media from publishing?
Classified information that threatens national security
Any information critical of the government
Information about political campaigns
Information about public figures
What are the three manifestations (or forms) of parties?
Political, social, and economic parties
National, state, and local parties
Party in the electorate, party organization, and party in government
Liberal, conservative, and moderate parties
What is universal suffrage?
The right to vote for all adult citizens regardless of race, gender, or wealth
Restricting voting rights based on income
Allowing only property owners to vote
Limiting voting rights to specific ethnic groups
What did the National Voter Registration Act do?
It abolished voter registration requirements
It made voter registration easier by allowing registration at the DMV
It restricted voter registration to specific locations
It eliminated the need for voter registration altogether
Which protections of the First Amendment allow interest groups to exist?
Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly
The right to bear arms
Protection against self-incrimination
The right to privacy
What is the difference between a PAC and a Super PAC?
PACs can donate unlimited funds directly to candidates, while Super PACs cannot
Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited funds, while PACs have donation limits
PACs are only for political parties, while Super PACs are for corporations
Super PACs are limited to state elections, while PACs are for federal elections
What do revolving door laws limit?
The ability of former government officials to lobby immediately after leaving office
The number of terms a politician can serve
The amount of money lobbyists can spend on campaigns
The number of lobbyists allowed in a single interest group
A candidate must win a minimum of how many electoral votes to win the presidency?
500
360
435
270
An election held within a political party to select the nominee for a presidential candidate, usually held in the spring or the summer time.
Primary Election
Formal Election
Electoral College
Popular Vote
A dissenting opinion is a written opinion that ______ with the majority opinion among the 9 justices.
agrees
disagrees
aligns
supports
What are concurring opinions in supreme court cases?
Written opinions that disagree with the lower court's decision
Written opinions that agree with the outcome of the court's decision, but could disagree with the reasoning.
Opinions that have no relation to the lower court's decision
None of the above.
An election held every four years in November during even numbered years is:
Primary Election
General Election
Bond Election
Special Election
What is the term length for a U.S. House Representative?
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?
8 years
4 years
2 years
6 years
What is a Political Party Platform?
The various layers and levels of party leadership with the highest elected office holder at the top.
The physical structures used by candidates in the various states when campaigning.
The collection of a Party's values, ideologies, issues and possible actions to be supported by its members.
The physical structures that bind the party together.
Can the President declare war?
Yes
No
A conservative, or Republican, is generally in line with more traditional values and believes in less government interference.
True
False
A liberal, or Democrat, believes that the government should be more involved and create social/economic programs for the people.
True
False
Libertarianism believes in more individual freedoms and believes that the government is detrimental to daily life. "More freedom, less government"
True
False
Which of the following statements most accurately describes judicial review?
the power to nominate and appoint new judges
the power to reverse the decisions of lower courts
the power to review presidential actions
the power to declare laws constitutional or unconstitutional
What term describes the process of creating a public value system?
Government propaganda
Political socialization
Civic acculturation
Political education
What are agencies of socialization?
The Department of American Socialization (DAS)
The Agencies for Social and Economic development
The family, school, religion and other social institutions that transmit values from one generation to the next
All the above
Straight ticket voting means that you vote for candidates from the same political party in every election on your ballot.
True
False
Who are considered the "Persuaders" or "Convincers" in Government?
Mr. L
Media
Lobbyists
Political Action Committee
Which amendment protects the freedom of speech, religion, and the press?
Amendment I
Amendment II
Amendment III
Amendment IV
What protection does the 4th Amendment provide to the people?
Protection against self-incrimination
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
Protection of the right to bear arms
Protection of the right to free speech
According to the 6th Amendment, what right does the accused have in all criminal prosecutions?
The right to a speedy and public trial
The right to excessive bail
The right to cruel and unusual punishment
The right to re-examine facts tried by a jury
Bob makes a poster and puts it on a bulletin board. The poster criticizes the government. Bob is protected by which amendment?
1st
3rd
5th
6th
Which Supreme Court case established the principle of 'separate but equal'?
Brown v Board of Education
Plessy v Ferguson
Roe v Wade
Miranda v Arizona
Which case ruled in 1954 that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional?
Brown v Board of Education
Gideon v Wainwright
Dred Scott v Sanford
Buck v Bell
Which case guaranteed the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants?
Miranda v Arizona
Gideon v Wainwright
Escobedo v Illinois
Furman v Georgia
Which case legalized same-sex marriage in the United States?
Obergefell v Hodges
Loving v Virginia
Shelby County v Holder
Texas v Johnson
Which case addressed the issue of interracial marriage and declared bans on it unconstitutional?
Loving v Virginia
Roe v Wade
Korematsu v United States
Lawrence v Texas
Which case ruled that burning the American flag is protected under the First Amendment?
Texas v Johnson
Buck v Bell
Shelby County v Holder
Furman v Georgia
Which case established the right to privacy in matters of abortion?
Roe v Wade
Miranda v Arizona
Gregg v Georgia
Plessy v Ferguson
Which case ruled that suspects have the right to an attorney during police interrogation?
Escobedo v Illinois
Miranda v Arizona
Mendez v Westminster
Furman v Georgia
Which case dealt with the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II?
Korematsu v United States
Dred Scott v Sanford
Lawrence v Texas
Shelby County v Holder
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
7
9
11
13
Miranda v. Arizona was an important criminal procedure case in the U.S. that established what?
established national supremacy
established the right to an abortion
police departments must read suspects their Miranda Rights during arrests and interrogations.
established that the police must be informed of their Miranda Rights during arrests and interrogations.
Which case established that obscenity is NOT protected speech under the First Amendment?
Lawrence v. Texas
Roth v. U.S.
Gregg v. Georgia
Furman v. Georgia
Which Supreme Court case established that states are allowed to forcibly sterilize people who are considered "unfit", including those with intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses, or simply people that the state wanted to target.
Roth v. U.S.
Lawrence v. Texas
Shelby County v. Holder
Buck v. Bell
Which court case in 1962 said that public schools cannot sponsor or encourage prayer?
Engel v. Vitale
Loving v. Virginia
Roe v. Wade
Buck v. Bell
This case in 1976 ruled that the death penalty is constitutional when states follow procedures that prevent arbitrary or discriminatory sentencing, essentially reinstating the death penalty nationwide.
Gideon v. Wainwright
Furman v. Georgia
Gregg v. Georgia
Lawrence v. Texas
Which case in 1972 temporarily struck down the death penalty in the United States claiming that it was being practiced unconstitutionally?
Gregg v. Georgia
Lawrence v. Texas
Furman v. Georgia
Loving v. Virginia
Which of these Supreme Court cases struck down laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy?
Texas v. Johnson
Buck v. Bell
Engle v. Vitale
Lawrence v. Texas
Which of these Supreme Court cases from 1986 allowed states to criminalize same-sex intimacy?
Roth v. U.S.
Obergefell v. Hodges
Lawrence v. Texas
Bowers v. Hardwick
This Supreme Court case changed U.S. Voting rights by dramatically weakening the Voting Rights Act and reshaping election laws nationwide.
Brown v. Board of Education
Shelby County v. Holder
Mendez v. Westminster
Korematsu v. United States
This Supreme Court case in 2014 ruled that corporations can exercise religion under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and be exempt from laws that violate religious beliefs of their owners, specifically to deny insurance coverage for contraception.
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby
Brown v. Board of Education
Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections
Buck v. Bell
This Supreme Court case in 1947 ruled on the segregation of Mexican American students into separate schools, claiming that it was unconstitutional and violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Escobedo v. Illinois
Brown v. Board of Education
Engle v. Vitale
Mendez v. Westminster
This court case in 1857 ruled that African Americans could NOT be U.S. citizens, living in free territory did NOT make an enslaved person free, and congress had NO power to ban slavery in the territories making the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.
Plessy v. Ferguson
Buck v. Bell
Loving v. Virginia
Dred Scott v. Sanford
This 1966 Supreme Court case ended poll taxes in state elections, stating that they were unconstitutional and that wealth has no relation to a person's right to vote.
Gregg v. Georgia
Korematsu v. United States
Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections
Mendez v. Westminster
This Supreme Court case in 1803 established judicial review stating that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land".
Miranda v. Arizona
Marbury v. Madison
Lawrence v. Texas
Gideon v. Wainwright
This Supreme Court case in 1961 applied the exclusionary rule, stating that illegally obtained evidence cannot be used.
Gregg v. Georgia
Miranda v. Arizona
Mapp v. Ohio
Furman v. Georgia
This Supreme Court case from 1919 stated that speech posing "clear and present danger" is NOT protected.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Texas v. Johnson
Roth v. U.S.
Schenck v. U.S.
The Supreme Court case from 1969 that stated that students have free speech rights, also known as the "armband case".
Tinker v. Des Moines
Texas v. Johnson
Roth v. U.S.
Schenk v. U.S.
This Supreme Court case from 1985 ruled that students have constitutional protections from unreasonable searches at school, but school officials do not need a search warrant or probable cause like police do, they only need reasonable suspicion because schools need to "maintain discipline and safety" for all students.
Texas v. Johnson
Roth v. U.S.
New Jersey v. T.L.O.
Engle v. Vitale
The Rule of Four in the Supreme Court states that:
at least four of the nine justices are entitled to protect the majority by ruling that the five other justices are unconstitutional
at least four of the nine justices must make a ruling on a case to make it law
at least four of the nine justices don't have to rule on a case
at least four of the nine justices must vote to hear a case and the Court will take it, even if the other five justices do not want to.
Federal Judges, including Supreme Court Justices, serve for LIFE - a term of "good behavior" - unless they retire, resign, die, are impeached.
True
False
The purpose of "writ of certiorari" is how most cases get to the Supreme Court. It is an order from a higher court telling a lower court to send up a case for review.
True
False
Criminal Law is:
a system of laws that defines crimes, sets punishments, and governs how people who are accused of crimes are prosecuted and tried.
the body of law that deals with disputes between individuals, groups, or organizations, usually involving money, property, or rights.
Civil Law is:
a system of laws that defines crimes, sets punishments, and governs how people who are accused of crimes are prosecuted and tried.
the body of law that deals with disputes between individuals, groups, or organizations, usually involving money, property, or rights.
When can a civil court case be heard?
When the judge agrees to make them pay money
When it involves $20 or more
When it involves breaking a law
When it involves $50 or more
Who handles more court cases?
Federal Courts, because they have limited jurisdiction
State Courts, because most everyday legal issues fall under state law.
Judicial Restraint is the idea that judges should:
interpret the constitution strictly
avoid overturning laws unless clearly unconstitutional
defer to the elected branches
not make policy from the bench
all of these
Judicial activism is the idea that judges should:
use the constitution to promote justice, equality, and change
be more willing to strike down laws
interpret the constitution more flexibly and step in when other branches fail to protect rights
all of these
The Equal Protection Clause is part of:
the 14th amendment and says that no state may deny any person equal protection of the laws
protection against racial discrimination, gender discrimination, and other unequal treatment
BOTH of these
What is part of the First Amendment and says that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion?
free exercise clause
equal protection clause
establishment clause
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Charleston
Who of these is fit to serve as President of the United States?
a 42 year old steel worker born in Fort Worth, Texas
a 30 year old man from Boston with a degree from Harvard
a 35 year old Lawyer who moved to the United States from Germany when he was 12
What is the word for "to talk a bill to death" in Congress?
habeus corpus
filibuster
civil liberty
dissenting
What is the correct number for the representatives in Congress?
435 house members, 50 senate
435 house members, 100 senate
535 house members, 50 senate
535 house members, 100 senate members
The electoral college is:
the system where electors chosen by each state cast the official votes for president
the system where each state elects a winner based on the total number of votes
the system where each state adds its number of representatives and senators together.
How often must legislative district lines be redrawn?
every 2 years
every 10 years
every 5 years
every 30 years
Who is the presiding officer of the US House of Representatives?
executive judge
chief justice
speaker
house chairman
The winner take all system of the electoral college means that:
each state counts popular votes and the candidate with the most popular votes gets all of that states electoral votes
each state counts popular votes and the candidate with the most popular votes nationwide gets all of the electoral votes
each state counts popular votes and the candidate with the most electoral votes gets all of the popular votes
The work in congress is done mainly where?
behind closed doors
on the floor
in committee and subcommittee
The number of cabinet level federal departments is?
9
12
15
13
Each state has as many electoral votes as it has
number of cabinet members
population
number of senators
number of house members
What does "habeus corpus" mean?
means people can be unlawfully or secretly detained
talk a bill to death
protects people from being held in jail without a valid reason
weak protection
A ________ is when senators delay or block a vote by prolonging debate, and it takes 60 votes to stop them.
writ of certiarori
habeus corpus
filibuster
committee
This case established National Supremacy:
McCulloch v. Maryland
Marbury v. Madison
Roe v. Wade
Korematsu v. United States
This amendment establishes Presidential term limits to 2 elected terms.
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
What is the main purpose of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment?
To establish the right to bear arms
To limit the power of the federal government
To guarantee equal treatment under the law for all citizens
To outline the process for presidential elections
A state has sovereignty when it is able to do which of the following?
freely create and enforce laws
invade and take over any other state
occupy a particular area of land
punish its citizens for any action
The legislative branch
makes the laws.
enforces the laws.
interprets the laws.
breaks the laws.
What is the most democratic aspect of a criminal trial?
judge
jury
public defender
state prosecution
The constitution requires that a supreme court justice...
be confirmed by the senate
represent the people
be an experienced lawyer
have US citizenship
Who votes to approve the government budget?
the president
house and senate
the American people
judicial branch
Mass media most directly influences public policy by...
choosing what issues and events receive exposure
encouraging citizens to seek out information from multiple sources
reporting the details of all current national and international events
serving as a mouthpiece for government officials
What is it called when a law is proposed to authorize spending money?
private bill
logrolling
appropriations bill
lobbying
The Senate refusing the approve a President's Supreme Court nominee is an example of what Constitutional principle?
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
Federalism
Limited Government
